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Editing and Proofreading

Gale was the first professional editor I'd worked with and she set the bar very high indeed.

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Kathy Hopewell, author

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Structural and developmental editing

Gale combines an unerring eye for grammatical detail with the ability to offer perceptive critiques covering plot, structure, characters, pacing and all the other vital elements.

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Stephen Gardner, author

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  • working on your text to make sure it is ready for publication and/or submission

  • looking at characterization, pace, structure, plot, point of view, language, commercial viability (fiction)

  • offering possible solutions to inherent issues in the text

  • suggesting restructuring or rewriting of material where appropriate

  • checking content flow, illustrations, facts, references and notes, commercial viability (non-fiction)

  • a general overview (critique) of the entire work, highlighting strengths and weaknesses within the text, as well as considering its suitability for a particular market/audience

  • drawing attention to possible legal issues or material that might require permissions

  • can also incorporate copy-editing (see below)

  • may involve elements of book doctoring

Structural/developmental editing (also known as substantive or content editing) can include:

Copy-editing

I was very fortunate to find Gale having used numerous copy-editors in the past. … She understood precisely what was required from the onset, her communication not just excellent but empowering throughout. She made a joy of what is, normally, a very stressful experience for me.

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Anton FitzSimons, author

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Copy-editing (also known as line-editing) involves:
  • ensuring that your text makes sense, flows properly and actually says what you intended

  • scrutinizing spelling, grammar, punctuation, consistency

  • checking for anomalies/inconsistencies in the text

  • marking up your text for layout

It usually incorporates:

On-screen editing

  • editing straight onto an electronic version of your text rather than on to a printed version

  • inputting copy-editing changes from elsewhere onto an electronic version of a text

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... as well as:

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Styling

  • checking for consistency of spellings (British or American), subject matter, punctuation and layout markings

  • correct use of quotation marks and italics

  • accurate labelling of headings and subheadings, as well as picture captions (non-fiction)

  • ensuring conformity of abbreviations, such as inclusion or omission of full stops

  • complying with specific referencing systems, if applicable.

Proofreading

Gale’s patient and painstaking proofread helped us to publish a complex, fully illustrated, high-quality book with complete confidence. The result speaks for itself.

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    Alan Boyle, Leannta Associates

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Proofreading involves the following:

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  • Checking your final draft for any remaining minor errors, inconsistencies or incorrect layout

  • Investigating your otherwise unedited text for grammar, spelling, punctuation and other textual and layout inconsistencies

  • Often confused with copy-editing, this is very much a final polish to your text and nothing more

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